Languages › German German Verb Conjugation of Sprechen (To Speak) Share Flipboard Email Print Klaus Vedfelt / Getty Images German Grammar History & Culture Pronunciation & Conversation Vocabulary Table of Contents Expand Present Tense - Präsens Compound Past Tense (Present Perfect) - Perfekt Past Perfect Tense - Plusquamperfekt Future Tense - Futur Future Perfect Tense - Futur II Commands - Imperativ Subjunctive I - Konjunktiv I Subjunctive II - Konjunktiv II By Hyde Flippo Hyde Flippo German Expert Hyde Flippo taught the German language for 28 years at high school and college levels and published several books on the German language and culture. Learn about our Editorial Process Updated on February 24, 2020 The German verb sprechen means to speak or to talk. It is an irregular (strong) verb and a stem-changing verb. Notice the change from e to i in the du and er/sie/es present tense forms. The past participle is gesprochen. Principal Parts: sprechen (spricht) sprach gesprochenImperative (Commands): (du) Sprich! | (ihr) Sprecht! | Sprechen Sie! Sprechen - Present Tense - Präsens Deutsch English ich spreche I speak/am speaking du sprichst you speak/are speaking er sprichtsie sprichtes spricht he speaks/is speakingshe speaks/is speakingit speaks/is speaking wir sprechen we speak/are speaking ihr sprecht you (guys) speak/are speaking sie sprechen they speak/are speaking Sie sprechen you speak/are speaking Examples: Sprechen Sie Deutsch? Do you speak German? Er spricht sehr schnell. He talks very fast. Sprechen - Simple Past Tense - Imperfekt Deutsch English ich sprach I spoke du sprachst you spoke er sprachsie spraches sprach he spokeshe spokeit spoke wir sprachen we spoke ihr spracht you (guys) spoke sie sprachen they spoke Sie sprachen you spoke Sprechen - Compound Past Tense (Present Perfect) - Perfekt Deutsch English ich habe gesprochen I spoke/have spoken du hast gesprochen you spoke/have spoken er hat gesprochensie hat gesprochenes hat gesprochen he spoke/has spokenshe spoke/has spokenit spoke/has spoken wir haben gesprochen we spoke/have spoken ihr habt gesprochen you (guys) spokehave spoken sie haben gesprochen they spoke/have spoken Sie haben gesprochen you spoke/have spoken Sprechen - Past Perfect Tense - Plusquamperfekt Deutsch English ich hatte gesprochen I had spoken du hattest gesprochen you had spoken er hatte gesprochensie hatte gesprochenes hatte gesprochen he had spokenshe had spokenit had spoken wir hatten gesprochen we had spoken ihr hattet gesprochen you (guys) had spoken sie hatten gesprochen they had spoken Sie hatten gesprochen you had spoken Sprechen - Future Tense - Futur The future tense is used much less in German than in English. Very often the present tense is used with an adverb instead, as with the present progressive in English: Er ruft morgen an. = He's going to call tomorrow. Deutsch English ich werde sprechen I will speak du wirst sprechen you will speak er wird sprechensie wird sprechenes wird sprechen he will speakshe will speakit will speak wir werden sprechen we will speak ihr werdet sprechen you (guys) will speak sie werden sprechen they will speak Sie werden sprechen you will speak Sprechen - Future Perfect Tense - Futur II Deutsch English ich werde gesprochen haben I will have spoken du wirst gesprochen haben you will have spoken er wird gesprochen habensie wird gesprochen habenes wird gesprochen haben he will have spokenshe will have spokenit will have spoken wir werden gesprochen haben we will have spoken ihr werdet gesprochen haben you (guys) will have spoken sie werden gesprochen haben they will have spoken Sie werden gesprochen haben you will have spoken Sprechen - Commands - Imperativ There are three command (imperative) forms, one for each "you" word. In addition, the "let's" form is used with wir. Deutsch English (du) sprich! speak (ihr) sprecht! speak sprechen Sie! speak sprechen wir! let's speak Sprechen - Subjunctive I - Konjunktiv I The subjunctive is a mood, not a tense. The Subjunctive I (Konjunktiv I) is based on the infinitive form of the verb. It is most often used to express indirect quotation (indirekte Rede). Rare in conversational use, the Subjunctive I is often seen in newspapers, usually in the third person (er spreche, he is said to speak). *NOTE: Because the Subjunctive I (Konjunktiv I) of "sprechen" in the first person (ich) is identical to the indicative (normal) form, the Subjunctive II is sometimes substituted. Deutsch English ich spreche (würde sprechen)* I speak du sprechest you speak er sprechesie sprechees spreche he speaksshe speaksit speaks wir sprechen we speak ihr sprechet you (guys) speak sie sprechen they speak Sie sprechen you speak Sprechen - Subjunctive II - Konjunktiv II The Subjunctive II (Konjunktiv II) expresses wishful thinking, contrary-to-reality situations and is used to express politeness. The Subjunctive II is based on the simple past tense (Imperfekt, sprach), adding an umlaut + e: spräche. Since the subjunctive is a mood and not a tense, it can be used in various tenses. Below are examples that illustrate how sprechen forms the subjunctive in past or future time. In such cases, the subjunctive forms of haben or werden are combined with sprechen. Deutsch English ich spräche I would speak du sprächest you would speak er sprächesie sprächees spräche he would speakshe would speakit would speak wir sprächen we would speak ihr sprächet you (guys) would speak sie sprächen they would speak Sie sprächen you would speak Deutsch English er habe gesprochen he is said to have spoken ich hätte gesprochen I would have spoken sie hätten gesprochen they would have spoken Deutsch English er werde gesprochen haben he will have spoken ich würde sprechen I would speak du würdest gesprochen haben you would have spoken Cite this Article Format mla apa chicago Your Citation Flippo, Hyde. "German Verb Conjugation of Sprechen (To Speak)." ThoughtCo, Apr. 5, 2023, thoughtco.com/german-verb-conjugations-sprechen-to-speak-4070800. Flippo, Hyde. (2023, April 5). German Verb Conjugation of Sprechen (To Speak). Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/german-verb-conjugations-sprechen-to-speak-4070800 Flippo, Hyde. "German Verb Conjugation of Sprechen (To Speak)." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/german-verb-conjugations-sprechen-to-speak-4070800 (accessed May 29, 2023). copy citation By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies